Category: Faces of NextGen

What five words would you use to describe yourself?
1. Passionate
2. Excitable
3.Dreamer
4.Nerdy
5. Friendly

Why genealogy?
Why not genealogy? Genealogy shows us who we are and where we are from —
what we do with that information is up to us. Genealogy has been a part of my life
since I was little girl. My mother is a professional genealogist and has been
involved in that field for the past 15+ years. As a child, she would take us to the
cemetery to find long-lost relatives and the names and dates in those resting places
took hold in my mind and stuck.

What’s the coolest discovery you’ve made?
There are so many, but it would probably have to be the prison records of a
bootlegger in Montana from the 1930’s. My clients family had a rumor that this
scalawag went to prison for bootlegging, but there was never any proof. There
were several instances of him being in county jail on offenses but the real find was
a perfectly clear mugshot.
!What are you working on this week?
This week I am working on a great deal of English research for a client. Her family
is English starting at her mother and she wanted to go back on the maternal side to
see what else could be found out about her family. I’m learning all sorts of new
terms and ways of researching — its fantastic!

What’s the number one secret to your success in genealogy?
Keep going. Sometimes the names and dates can start to blur, or you want to give
up because you can’t find that one piece of information just keep going. Try a
different name or line. Watch your favorite show or listen to music to motivate
you. Just keep going.

What superpower would you want to help you uncover your family history?
The are so many superpowers that I would want, but I honestly think the ability to
read, write and speak any language so that when I dig into those records in foreign
languages I could understand everything that was written down.

What are we most likely to find you doing when you’re not researching familyhistory?
So many things, but in addition to being a genealogist I work at a funeral home and
as a caregiver for adults with developmental delays. I also own a genealogical
transcription business called Life Stories — so I keep myself pretty busy most days.

Anything else you’d like to share?
I love to network with other genealogists, historians and those in the death field
and industry. Connecting as friends and learning more about each other is a huge
mission in my life. Come find me over on Facebook and Instagram.

The NextGen Genealogy Network is made up of young genealogists with diverse backgrounds, interests, and experiences. Faces of NextGen showcases a different member of our community each month. If you would like to be considered for an upcoming feature, simply complete our questionnaire and submit a selfie.

What five words would you use to describe yourself? Family-oriented, Inquisitive,Determined,Humorous and Committed

Why genealogy?

Why not genealogy?! There’s always something exciting to be discovered when doing genealogy. I will never understand how people can spend so much time following other families but don’t know anything about their own family. Genealogy is the story of what makes you who you are! I aim to learn everything I can learn about my story and strive to keep family history alive.

What’s the coolest discovery you’ve made?

Every time I make a discovery I think it’s the coolest! BUT…if I had to pick just one…I’d say it’s discovering the story of my 2x Great Grandfather. I went from not knowing his name, to discovering a fascinating chain of events surrounding him murdering his wife! He spent the rest of his days in prison and (according to newspaper sources) is buried on the prison grounds. His story was very shocking and unfortunate, and would also make a very good screenplay! I was able to obtain a copy of his prison ledger from the early 1900’s and that was definitely a surreal feeling. Everything was there except his mugshot, so I’m still on the hunt for that!

Simply sticking with it. All the answers may not be found in one day or one year. We’re all eager to find answers but you come to a point where you realize finding those answers takes time. It’s ok to take a break sometimes and regroup. I’ve had moments where I’ve hit a brick wall with one ancestor, so I took a break from that one and focused on another instead, or I’ll go back and review the things I’ve researched. And it’s always beneficial to keep learning along the way – workshops, webinars, lectures, ask questions, and don’t forget to follow others in the genealogy community. No matter how much we know we can always gain new insight and inspiration from these resources.

What superpower would you want to help you uncover your family history?

Can I have two?

Time travel, because I love the thought of just randomly popping in on ancestors at any given time like “Hey, I’m your family from the future! You may as well tell me what’s going on now because I’ll find out anyway through countless hours of research and DNA testing!”

I would be the person who somehow saves the 1890 Census!

*Genealogy world erupts in a thunderous applause*

What are we most likely to find you doing when you’re not researching family history?

When I’m not doing family research, I’m still doing family things. Most things that I love, I love to do with them. What can I say? Family is my lifeline. Periodically I escape to write, try out new recipes, or rock a karaoke session (smile)! I love to laugh and enjoy life with the people I love.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I’d like to urge people to get involved in their family history now. It’s important to ask questions while you have relatives who are still here to give you the information. Also, never throw out family history; this includes pictures, personal papers, family heirlooms, etc. Those things may not mean anything to you at this moment but may be the key to answering family questions down the line. If you don’t want the items or don’t know what to do with them, contact me and I’ll help you find a safe place to preserve them.

The NextGen Genealogy Network is made up of young genealogists with diverse backgrounds, interests, and experiences. Faces of NextGen showcases a different member of our community each month. If you would like to be considered for an upcoming feature, simply complete our questionnaire and submit a selfie.

I have harbored a strong affection for history since childhood, fascinated by vivid images, stories and figures of the past. When I discovered genealogy and the ways my ancestors related to the larger narrative of history, I was hooked. Also, I love research!

What’s the coolest discovery you’ve made?

There have been many, but what first comes to mind is the discovery that my grandfather and my husband’s aunt lived in the same small town in northern California at the same time. My husband and his family are from Guadalajara, Mexico, I grew up in Maine and my grandfather was from Oklahoma, so this was a very unexpected coincidence.

What are you working on this week?

I have picked up my research into the early life of one of my maternal great grandfathers, who was adopted and about whom little is known. I have been in communication with my mother’s cousin, who is the son of the eldest of my great-grandfather’s sons, and who is helping to guide my research by answering questions and confirming several discoveries based on oral histories.

What’s the number one secret to your success in genealogy?

Commitment to well-organized research. By remaining committed to the scope of my research projects and digging into the details, with as much structure in my research plan as possible, I am able to document my search and findings easily – and the details for narratives are available!

What superpower would you want to help you uncover your family history?

The ability to see into the past, of course! Also, full access to the Family History Library 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What are we most likely to find you doing when you’re not researching family history?

Spending time with my 5-month old and husband at Balboa Park or the zoo – two of our favorite family outings. When I’m not with my family (and also not researching), I am often swimming at my local YMCA.

The NextGen Genealogy Network is made up of young genealogists with diverse backgrounds, interests, and experiences. Faces of NextGen showcases a different member of our community each month. If you would like to be considered for an upcoming feature, simply complete our questionnaire and submit a selfie.

What five words would you use to describe yourself? The five words I would use to describe myself are; patient, enterprising, blessed, methodical, and motivated.

Why genealogy? Genealogy was an accident for me. My original intention at BYU-Idaho was to study towards becoming a park ranger, choosing Family History as a minor. I was immediately hooked on the subject. Very quickly I shifted my focus towards a degree in Family History with the goal of becoming a professional genealogist. Since my initial introduction to the subject, I have spent an inordinate amount of time researching and learning the ins and outs of the field. I feel truly blessed to have discovered my passion, one in which I very much hope to make a career.

What are you working on this week? As classes do not resume until September (thank goodness), I’ve chosen to use this time to study in preparation for ICAPGen accreditation, occasionally stepping away to conduct research on the Thompson branch of my family tree.

What’s the number one secret to your success in genealogy? I would have to say the number one secret to my success has been persistence in the face of some quite daunting challenges. Whether it’s running into a metaphorical brick wall while conducting research, or attempting to make heads or tails of difficult scripts, I keep moving forward until I achieve what I set out to do.

What superpower would you want to help you uncover your family history? Undoubtedly, I’d have to go with time travel. To be able to personally speak with my ancestors, and to hear their story from their lips would be the absolute greatest gift I could receive.

What are we most likely to find you doing when you’re not researching family history? When I am not working on researching family history, I can be found devouring every genealogy book available, or attending genealogy seminars and conferences. Aside from genealogy, I adore spending time with my wonderful husband and two brilliant daughters, very often camping or road tripping throughout the U.S.

The NextGen Genealogy Network is made up of young genealogists with diverse backgrounds, interests, and experiences. Faces of NextGen showcases a different member of our community each month. If you would like to be considered for an upcoming feature, simply complete our questionnaire and submit a selfie.